Moeen Ali quickly followed after tamely prodding his second ball from Pat Cummins to Steve Smith at second slip, while Chris Woakes was well caught on the fence by Cummins to give Josh Hazlewood his second wicket of the innings.
Before the carnage started, Jonny Bairstow had moved to his fourth Test century in the early stages of the second day and celebrated by headbutting his helmet, in a curious nod to the controversy that had dogged his throughout this tour.
But Mitchell Starc soon splayed his middle stump on the WACA turf with a searing inswinging yorker, reminscient of the delivery that ended the Adelaide Test match nine days ago.
Craig Overton fended a short ball to Cameron Bancroft at short leg and Stuart Broad – who backed wildly away to the leg side but did cream a massive 104m six off Hazlewood – was also caught in close fending off a bouncer.
It represented a remarkable fightback by Australia after England’s record fifth-wicket partnership. Bairstow and Malan put on 237 in 414 balls, before they then lost 6-35 in their next 50 balls. One looming hour could make or break England’s Magellan Ashes series, century-maker Dawid Malan says.
